js&cs.thebridge-第22节

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era　dangled　from　one　hand；　mud…spattered　as　well。　Mike　was　nowhere　in　sight。
　　Laura　turned；　death　rays　emoting　from　her　eyes　as　Kirk　stumbled　down　the　stairs。　〃Alright！〃　she　yelled。　〃I　want　some　goddamned　explanations　here！〃
　　He　blew　past　Gary　in　a　shot；　muttered　something　incoherent；　and　beelined　for　the　edit　room；　disappearing　around　the　corner。　The　camcorder　carelessly　went　crunch　against　the　doorjamb。　Gary　felt　the　blood　drain　out　of　his　face。　The　signal　in　his　head　was　clanging　like　a　klaxon　horn。　Wrong！　Wrong！　Wrong！　Wrong！
　　〃GODDAMMIT！〃　Laura　bellowed；　storming　across　the　room。　〃Where　the　hell　have　you　been？　Why　didn't　you　maintain　radio　contact？　Where's　Mike　。。。　？〃
　　〃Mike's　dead；〃　he　said　flatly；　still　banging　around。
　　WHAT？！！　Gary　thought。
　　〃WHAT？！！〃　Laura　cried　incredulously。　〃What　。。。　how　。。。　〃　She　stopped；　collected　herself。　〃Kirk；　what　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　Kirk's　face　suddenly　appeared　around　the　er；　crazed；　shell…shocked；　and　feral。　He　clutched　a　videocassette　in　his　hand　as　if　it　were　a　piece　of　the　One　True　Cross。　He　waved　it　before　her；　stopping　her　dead。
　　〃C'mere；〃　he　said。　〃I　gotta　show　you　something。〃
　　
　　〃Jesus　God；　this　is　awful；〃　Laura　gasped。　She　and　Kirk　stood　in　front　of　the　monitor；　features　aglow　from　the　screen。　Mike's　chair　was　conspicuously　empty。　Gary　hovered　at　the　doorway；　watching　Kirk　as　if　he　were　some　strange　and　unpleasant　form　of　bacteria。
　　The　tape's　sound　was　turned　mercifully　down。　It　didn't　help。
　　The　visuals　were　bad　enough。
　　〃Did　you　call　the　police？〃　Laura　asked。
　　〃No；〃　Kirk　replied；　his　voice　very　small。
　　On　the　screen；　the　truck　was　ramming　through　the　dead　branches　in　a　burst　of　chaotic　choreography　。。。
　　〃Did　you　call　EMR？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No；〃　Kirk　said；　teeth　clenching。　The　truck；　bouncing　in　and　out　of　the　jangling　frame；　bearing　down　on　the　camera　。。。
　　〃Did　you　call　ANYBODY？！〃　she　asked；　exasperated。
　　〃No！〃　The　truck；　swallowing　everything。
　　〃Are　you　crazy？　Why　the　hell　not？〃
　　〃BECAUSE　I　FORGOT；　OKAY？〃　he　screamed；　leaning　too　far　into　Laura's　face。　〃I　WAS　KINDA　FUCKIN'　BUSY！〃
　　The　screen；　reduced　to　static。
　　〃MIKE　DIED　FOR　THAT　FOOTAGE　。。。　！〃　Kirk　bellowed：　his　nose　almost　touching　Laura's；　her　hair　blowing　back。　The　spark　of　terror　in　Laura's　eyes　was　all　Gary　needed　to　see。
　　〃Whoa；〃　Gary　said；　stepping　closer。　He　liked　Laura　fine；　had　thought　the　world　of　Mike；　was　none　too　fond　of　Kirk。　〃Boy；〃　he　said；　stepping　deftly　between　them；　one　big　hand　ing　up　to　land　in　the　center　of　Kirk's　chest。　Kirk　was　maybe　two　inches　taller。　It　didn't　mean　a　thing。　〃Time　for　you　to　calm　down。〃
　　〃Hey　。。。　！〃　Kirk　began；　already　folding。
　　Gary　shook　his　head　huh…uh；　laid　a　sharp；　flat…palmed　love　thump　on　Kirk's　hollow　breastbone。　It　made　a　resonant　thud；　knocked　him　back　just　a　step。
　　〃I　think　the　question　we're　asking　here；〃　Gary　continued；　〃is　what　did　you　do　about　Mike？〃
　　Kirk's　eyes　flickered　from　side　to　side；　as　if　the　answer　were　written　on　a　cue　card　somewhere　just　outside　of　his　visual　range。
　　〃You　just　fuckin'　left　him　there；　didn't　you？〃　Gary　pressed；　his　anger　mounting；　a　black　tide　within　him。
　　Behind　him；　Laura　went；　〃Gary。　No。〃
　　〃Just　fuckin'　left　him　in　the　mud；〃　Gary　snarled；　backing　him　into　the　folding　chairs。　They　collapsed　with　a　clatter　that　did　nothing　but　stoke　Gary's　rage。　〃No　cops；　no　nothing。　Just　race　back　here　to　cash　in　on　your　big　fuckin'　story；　forget　all　about　the　guy　who　fuckin'　died　so　you　could　even　have　it　。。。　！〃
　　There　were　hands　on　his　shoulders　now；　holding　him　back。　〃Gary！　ENOUGH！〃　she　shouted。　Gary　tensed　for　a　second；　his　fury　threatening　to　blow　back　on　her。　Then　he　stopped　in　his　tracks　and　swallowed　it　whole。
　　Before　him；　Kirk's　mouth　opened　and　closed；　opened　and　closed。　He　was　trying　for　his　wounded…puppy　look；　but　fish　metaphors　kept　getting　in　the　way。　Gary　guessed　it　was　his　wounded…guppy　look。
　　〃It　just　got　all　fucked　up；〃　Kirk　sniveled；　the　tears　ing　now。　〃And　when　Mike　got　k…k…killed　。。。　〃
　　〃It's　okay；〃　Laura　said。　Gary　shot　her　a　look　like　you're　kidding；　right？；　she　just　kept　watching　Kirk。
　　〃　。。。　the　only　thing　I　could　think　was　get　the　tape　back；　get　the　tape　back！〃　He　smashed　the　desk　with　his　fist…once；　twice…his　features　contorting　with　anguish。　〃So　I　dih…hih…hid　。。。　〃　His　voice　decaying　into　unquestionably　heartfelt　sobs。
　　When　the　picture　came　back　on　the　monitor　again…a　disjointed　shot　of　dirt　and　grass…Kirk　reached　over　and　clicked　it　off。　A　dramatic　gesture。
　　〃So；〃　Gary　said；　turning　to　Laura。　〃Now　what？〃
　　She　just　stood　there；　quietly　thrumming；　her　features　knit　in　intense　concentration。　He　sympathized；　it　was　an　extremely　tough　call。　He　just　hoped　that　she'd　make　the　right　decision。
　　〃We　run　with　the　story；〃　she　said　at　last。
　　〃Alright！〃　Kirk　exclaimed；　scarcely　daring　to　believe　it。
　　〃Score：　Cannibals；　one；　Humans；　nothing；〃　Gary　muttered；　scowling。
　　Laura　picked　up　the　phone　and　punched　an　inside　line　to　the　studio。　〃John？〃　she　said。　〃Laura。　Listen；　get　on　the　line　and　get　me　another　cameraman　。。。　yeah；　I　know　it's　Sunday；　dammit！　Something's　cooking；　and　it　looks　like　it　might　break　early　。。。　〃
　　She　paused；　suddenly。　Gary　watched　her　face　turn　a　little　bit　green。　〃Um　。。。　Mike？〃　she　said　slowly。　〃Mike's　out　of　mission　。。。　never　mind　what　happened！　Just　get　me　another　shooter　in　here；　pronto！〃
　　She　finished；　ringing　off。　Gary　faced　her　squarely。　〃Aren't　you　forgetting　something？〃　he　said。
　　Laura　took　a　deep　breath。　〃The　HazMat　people　will　be　out　there　any　minute。　Not　to　mention　more　cops；　if　they're　not　there　already。　Now；　we　can　spend　the　whole　day　tied　up；　answering　their　questions；　or　we　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　this。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　it's　not　even　an　issue。〃　She　looked　him　straight　in　the　eye。　〃They'll　take　care　of　Mike。〃
　　〃Aw；　bullshit　。。。　！〃
　　〃Kirk。〃　Laura　focused　on　him；　turned　away　from　Gary。　〃I　want　to　know　whose　truck　that　was。　I　want　to　know　everything　about　them。〃　Kirk　nodded；　recuperating　with　astounding　speed。　〃Then；　as　soon　as　we　get　another　shooter；　we'll…〃
　　〃WHAT？〃　Kirk　cried　out。　〃What　do　you　mean；　'as　soon　as　we　get　another　shooter'！　I　know　how　to　work　the　camera！　I'm　ready　to　go　now！〃
　　Laura　looked　to　Gary；　as　if　to　say　can　we？　Gary　shook　his　head。
　　〃We　can't　do　that；〃　she　decided。　〃The　union　would　flip。〃
　　〃The　union；〃　Gary　concurred；　〃would　lose　their　fucking　minds。〃
　　〃FUCK　the　union！〃　Kirk　barked。　〃We're　sitting　on　the　biggest　story　of　the　year；　and　you　want　to　wait　for　a　goddamned　cameraman？〃
　　〃Rules　are　rules；〃　Laura　said。
　　〃FUCK　THE　RULES！！〃　Kirk　wailed。
　　〃Now；　you　listen；〃　Laura　turned；　recouping　herself。　〃And　listen　good。　I'm　not　going　to　risk　my　job　and　bring　a　strike　down　on　us　just　because　you've　got　a　fire　in　your　pants。　So　you　either　sit　tight；　and　we　do　it　by　the　book；　or　you　just　kiss　it　goodbye。　You　got　that？〃
　　Kirk　looked　away；　conceding　nothing。　Laura　headed　back　to　her　Rolodex；　started　pulling　important　numbers。
　　〃Well；　great；〃　Gary　said；　radiating　contempt　as　he　turned　to　leave。　〃Hope　it　all　works　out　for　you　guys　。。。　〃
　　〃Wait；〃　she　said；　stopping　him　at　the　door。　〃I　need　your　help。　Do　you　think　you　could　run　A。D。O。　on　that　tape？〃
　　He　turned　back；　looking　at　her　as　if　she　had　just　said　would　you　eat　barbecued　baby　butt？　〃You're　serious；〃　he　said。
　　〃You　bet　your　ass；〃　she　replied。　〃Can　you　do　it？〃
　　〃Sure；　I　can。〃　Gary　nodded　incredulously；　making　no　pretense　of　niceness。　〃But　you　forget：　I'm　outahere。　Besides；〃　he　added；　〃what　do　you　need　digital　effects　for？　You　got　your　action　footage。〃
　　〃The　police　report　said　that　the　vehicle　was　stolen；〃　Laura　countered。　〃That　means　it　could　have　been　anybody。　We　need　to　isolate　the　face　of　the　driver；　give　us　a　recognizable　still。〃　Beat。　〃If　we're　gonna　nail　this　guy；　we　need　your　help。〃
　　Gary　paused。　The　bitch　of　it　was；　she　had　a　point。　Ampex　Digital　Optics　processing　could　show　the　bugs　stuck　to　the　bumper；　if　Mike　had　shot　it　right。　And　Gary'd　be　lying　if　he　said　he　wasn't　curious。
　　〃Please；〃　she　entreated。　〃Do　it　for　Mike。〃
　　Ooh。　He　felt　his　blood　freeze　in　his　veins。　You　manipulative　bitch。
　　But　her　gaze　didn't　waver。　And　the　facts　didn't　change。
　　〃Okay；〃　he　conceded　at　last。　〃But　just　for　the　record；　this　utterly　sucks。〃
　　〃For　the　record；　noted。〃　She　nodded；　handing　him　the　tape。　〃Oh；　and　Kirk？〃　she　began；　turning　toward　the　edit　room。　〃Kirk　。。。　？〃
　　〃Oh；　shit。〃　Gary　got　it　at　the　very　same　time。
　　〃Kirk！〃　she　yelled；　turning　back　to　the　stairs。　〃Oh；　you　son　of　a　bitch！〃
　　Both　Kirk　and　the　camera　were　gone。
　　And　it　was　twelve　o'clock。
　　
　　
　　　Seventeen
　　　
　　At　twelve…fifteen；　the　HazMat　team　pulled　onto　the　Black　Bridge　road。
　　Deitz　noticed　the　atmosphere　shift　at　once。　It　immediately　got　ten　degrees　warmer；　and　close：　a　sticky；　subtropical　humidity　that　clung　to　the　inside　of　the　lead　truck's　cab。
　　The　last　thirty　years；　he　knew；　had　seen　radical　shifts　in　global　climate　patterns；　accelerating　as　the　carbon　dioxide　levels　increased。　And　the　weather　had　always　been　a　quirky；　temperamental　thing　at　best。
　　But　this；　he　noted；